<o:p></o:p>

The maritime industry is facing renewed challenges as Somali pirates return to the seas, adding to the existing global shipping crisis. <o:p></o:p>

As reported by Reuters, the recent incident involving a Bangladeshi-owned bulk carrier, the Abdullah, highlights the escalating threat. <o:p></o:p>

Despite sending out distress signals, the crew was unable to prevent the pirates from boarding the vessel and taking the captain and second officer hostage.<o:p></o:p>

Chief Officer Atiq Ullah Khan, in an audio message to the ship's owners, reassured, "By the grace of Allah no one has been harmed so far." <o:p></o:p>

However, the pirates confiscated the crew's phones shortly after. <o:p></o:p>

The Abdullah is currently anchored off the coast of Somalia, becoming the latest victim in the resurgence of piracy that international navies had previously believed to be under control.<o:p></o:p>

Rising Incidents and associated costs<o:p></o:p>

Since November, more than 20 attempted hijackings have been reported, driving up costs for armed security guards and insurance coverage. <o:p></o:p>

Industry representatives indicate that the recent surge in piracy has also raised concerns about potential ransom payments. <o:p></o:p>

Two Somali gang members disclosed that they are exploiting the distractions caused by Houthi strikes to resume piracy activities after nearly a decade of dormancy.<o:p></o:p>

Reuters cited a pirate financier known as Ismail Isse, who said, "They took this chance because the international naval forces that operate off the coast of Somalia reduced their operations." <o:p></o:p>

Isse, who helped fund a previous hijacking, spoke to Reuters from Hul Anod, a coastal area in Somalia's semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Puntland.<o:p></o:p>

While the current threat level is not as severe as it was between 2008 and 2014, regional officials and industry sources express concerns that the problem could escalate further. <o:p></o:p>

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted the importance of addressing the issue early, stating, "If we do not stop it while it's still in its infancy, it can become the same as it was."<o:p></o:p>

International responses and deterrence efforts<o:p></o:p>

Over the weekend, the Indian Navy successfully intercepted and freed the Ruen, a ship sailing under Malta's flag, which may have been used as a launchpad for attacking the Abdullah. <o:p></o:p>

All 35 pirates aboard surrendered, and the 17 hostages were rescued without injuries. <o:p></o:p>

Cyrus Mody, deputy director of the International Chamber of Commerce's anti-crime arm, commented on the intervention.<o:p></o:p>

"This intervention does show that the risk/reward is very much against the pirates, and hopefully that will make them think a few times over," he said.<o:p></o:p>

However, a Bangladeshi foreign ministry official expressed reservations about military interventions close to the Somali coast. <o:p></o:p>

The official highlighted the advantages pirates possess in these waters and indicated that the government was "not in favour of any kind of military action" to free the Abdullah.<o:p></o:p>

Economic impact and security measures<o:p></o:p>

The waters off Somalia are among the world's busiest shipping lanes, with an estimated 20,000 vessels passing through annually. <o:p></o:p>

At their peak in 2011, Somali pirates launched 237 attacks, holding hundreds of hostages and costing the global economy about $7 billion, including ransoms. <o:p></o:p>

Although the current rate of attacks is lower, the pirates are primarily targeting smaller vessels in less patrolled waters.<o:p></o:p>

The escalating threat has led to an increase in war risk premiums and private armed guard costs. <o:p></o:p>

Insurance industry officials report that premiums are becoming more expensive for voyages through the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to typical voyage costs. <o:p></o:p>

The cost to hire a private armed guard team has surged by around 50 per cent in February, ranging between $4,000 and $15,000 for a three-day period.<o:p></o:p>

International collaboration and future strategies<o:p></o:p>

In response to the previous wave of piracy attacks, international navies had deployed up to 20 warships from 14 different countries to patrol the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lanes. <o:p></o:p>

While these measures significantly reduced pirate attacks, the subsequent reduction in the number of patrolling warships has allowed piracy to resurface.<o:p></o:p>

John Steed, former head of the counter-piracy unit at the UN Political Office for Somalia, highlighted the inconsistency in patrolling efforts, stating, "Countries' ships dip in and out of the various missions and back to national command." <o:p></o:p>

EUNAVFOR, the US State Department, and the British navy have all expressed their commitment to assisting Somalia in tackling piracy but have not commented on whether patrols are stretched too thin or if additional resources will be allocated.<o:p></o:p>

Somalia's role and law enforcement capacity<o:p></o:p>

President Mohamud noted the need to bolster Somalia's law enforcement capacity at sea and on land, rather than relying solely on international ships. <o:p></o:p>

Despite having 720 trained members in the coast guard, only one of its four boats is functional. <o:p></o:p>

Limited resources also plague the maritime police forces in Mogadishu, Puntland, and the breakaway Somaliland region.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

The maritime industry is facing renewed challenges as Somali pirates return to the seas, adding to the existing global shipping crisis. As reported by Reuters, the recent incident involving a Bangladeshi-owned bulk carrier, the Abdullah, highlights the escalating threat.

The maritime industry is facing renewed challenges as Somali pirates return to the seas, adding to the existing global shipping crisis. As reported by Reuters, the recent incident involving a Bangladeshi-owned bulk carrier, the Abdullah, highlights the escalating threat. Despite sending out distress signals, the crew was unable to prevent the pirates from boarding the vessel and taking the captain and second officer hostage. Chief Officer Atiq Ullah Khan, in an audio message to the ship's owners, reassured, "By the grace of Allah no one has been harmed so far." However, the pirates confiscated the crew's phones shortly after. The Abdullah is currently anchored off the coast of Somalia, becoming the latest victim in the resurgence of piracy that international navies had previously believed to be under control. Rising Incidents and associated costs Since November, more than 20 attempted hijackings have been reported, driving up costs for armed security guards and insurance coverage. Industry representatives indicate that the recent surge in piracy has also raised concerns about potential ransom payments. Two Somali gang members disclosed that they are exploiting the distractions caused by Houthi strikes to resume piracy activities after nearly a decade of dormancy. Reuters cited a pirate financier known as Ismail Isse, who said, "They took this chance because the international naval forces that operate off the coast of Somalia reduced their operations." Isse, who helped fund a previous hijacking, spoke to Reuters from Hul Anod, a coastal area in Somalia's semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Puntland. While the current threat level is not as severe as it was between 2008 and 2014, regional officials and industry sources express concerns that the problem could escalate further. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted the importance of addressing the issue early, stating, "If we do not stop it while it's still in its infancy, it can become the same as it was." International responses and deterrence efforts Over the weekend, the Indian Navy successfully intercepted and freed the Ruen, a ship sailing under Malta's flag, which may have been used as a launchpad for attacking the Abdullah. All 35 pirates aboard surrendered, and the 17 hostages were rescued without injuries. Cyrus Mody, deputy director of the International Chamber of Commerce's anti-crime arm, commented on the intervention. "This intervention does show that the risk/reward is very much against the pirates, and hopefully that will make them think a few times over," he said. However, a Bangladeshi foreign ministry official expressed reservations about military interventions close to the Somali coast. The official highlighted the advantages pirates possess in these waters and indicated that the government was "not in favour of any kind of military action" to free the Abdullah. Economic impact and security measures The waters off Somalia are among the world's busiest shipping lanes, with an estimated 20,000 vessels passing through annually. At their peak in 2011, Somali pirates launched 237 attacks, holding hundreds of hostages and costing the global economy about $7 billion, including ransoms. Although the current rate of attacks is lower, the pirates are primarily targeting smaller vessels in less patrolled waters. The escalating threat has led to an increase in war risk premiums and private armed guard costs. Insurance industry officials report that premiums are becoming more expensive for voyages through the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to typical voyage costs. The cost to hire a private armed guard team has surged by around 50 per cent in February, ranging between $4,000 and $15,000 for a three-day period. International collaboration and future strategies In response to the previous wave of piracy attacks, international navies had deployed up to 20 warships from 14 different countries to patrol the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lanes. While these measures significantly reduced pirate attacks, the subsequent reduction in the number of patrolling warships has allowed piracy to resurface. John Steed, former head of the counter-piracy unit at the UN Political Office for Somalia, highlighted the inconsistency in patrolling efforts, stating, "Countries' ships dip in and out of the various missions and back to national command." EUNAVFOR, the US State Department, and the British navy have all expressed their commitment to assisting Somalia in tackling piracy but have not commented on whether patrols are stretched too thin or if additional resources will be allocated. Somalia's role and law enforcement capacity President Mohamud noted the need to bolster Somalia's law enforcement capacity at sea and on land, rather than relying solely on international ships. Despite having 720 trained members in the coast guard, only one of its four boats is functional. Limited resources also plague the maritime police forces in Mogadishu, Puntland, and the breakaway Somaliland region. (With inputs from Reuters)

Somali pirates return, amplifying global shipping concerns: Report

The Indian Navy has rescued Pakistanis from Somali Pirates in the Arabian Sea. The Pakistanis were sailing in an Iranian fishing vessel that was hijacked by the pirates. Why did China not come to the rescue of the Pakistanis? Where was the great Western Armada? Time and again, India has rescued distressed ships in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Watch to know more!

India becomes the new security provider in the Arabian Sea

Suspected Somali pirates have boarded and hijacked a Sri Lankan fishing trawler with six crew in the latest attack against shipping in the Indian Ocean, Colombo’s navy said Sunday.

“Our information is that they were captured by Somali pirates,” said Sri Lankan navy spokesman Gayan Wickramasuriya, adding that the Lorenzo Putha–4 had been seized on Saturday some 840 nautical miles southeast of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have launched scores of attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden targeting Israeli-linked vessels in response to Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

International naval forces have been diverted north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, sparking fears of resurgent pirates exploiting the gap, with the first successful case of Somali piracy since 2017 recorded in December.

“Sri Lanka has alerted the Combined Maritime Forces,” Wickramasuriya told AFP, referring to the international anti-piracy coalition.

He said the navy of neighbouring India has&nbsp;already sent a warship to investigate, while the Sri Lankan navy was also preparing a vessel to travel to the area.

Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 -- with the gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655 kilometres (2,270 miles) from the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean -- before falling off sharply in recent years.

Last month, Somali pirates hijacked the bulk carrier MV Ruen.

The Bulgaria-owned and Malta-flagged vessel was seized by Somali pirates 380 nautical miles east of the Yemeni island of Socotra on December 16.

The pirates, who released one injured sailor into the care of the Indian navy, took the MV Ruen and its remaining 17 crew members to Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland.

Earlier this month, Sri Lanka announced it was joining a US-led maritime taskforce in the Red Sea to protect international shipping against attacks by the Houthis.

However, the cash-strapped island is yet to send a vessel.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that Houthi attacks had raised freight costs and were impacting Sri Lanka’s exports of garments and tea. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Suspected Somali pirates have boarded and hijacked a Sri Lankan fishing trawler with six crew in the latest attack against shipping in the Indian Ocean, Colombo’s navy said Sunday.

Suspected Somali pirates have boarded and hijacked a Sri Lankan fishing trawler with six crew in the latest attack against shipping in the Indian Ocean, Colombo’s navy said Sunday. “Our information is that they were captured by Somali pirates,” said Sri Lankan navy spokesman Gayan Wickramasuriya, adding that the Lorenzo Putha–4 had been seized on Saturday some 840 nautical miles southeast of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have launched scores of attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden targeting Israeli-linked vessels in response to Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. International naval forces have been diverted north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, sparking fears of resurgent pirates exploiting the gap, with the first successful case of Somali piracy since 2017 recorded in December. “Sri Lanka has alerted the Combined Maritime Forces,” Wickramasuriya told AFP, referring to the international anti-piracy coalition. He said the navy of neighbouring India has already sent a warship to investigate, while the Sri Lankan navy was also preparing a vessel to travel to the area. Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 -- with the gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655 kilometres (2,270 miles) from the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean -- before falling off sharply in recent years. Last month, Somali pirates hijacked the bulk carrier MV Ruen. The Bulgaria-owned and Malta-flagged vessel was seized by Somali pirates 380 nautical miles east of the Yemeni island of Socotra on December 16. The pirates, who released one injured sailor into the care of the Indian navy, took the MV Ruen and its remaining 17 crew members to Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland. Earlier this month, Sri Lanka announced it was joining a US-led maritime taskforce in the Red Sea to protect international shipping against attacks by the Houthis. However, the cash-strapped island is yet to send a vessel. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that Houthi attacks had raised freight costs and were impacting Sri Lanka’s exports of garments and tea. (With inputs from agencies)

Suspected pirates hijack trawler off Somalia: Sri Lanka navy

A few days after <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGzjxg1iss">India&#39;s INS Sharda foiled a priacy attempt on a Liberian vessel </a>off Gulf of Aden, the South Korean government today dispatched its anti-piracy naval unit to waters off Somalia after communication with a Mongolian fishing vessel was cut when it requested help, fearing it was being followed by a suspected pirate vessel.&nbsp;

The development comes just&nbsp;over a month after 10 Indians were rescued from a commercial vessel which was hijacked by pirates in waters off Somalia.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indians-held-by-pirates-in-somalia-rescued-14468">Also Read: Indians held by pirates in Somalia rescued</a>

&quot;The boat sent a message that it was being approached by some unidentified vessels,&quot; South Korean official told AFP.

&quot;Contact with the fishing boat was then lost, he added.

South Korean foreign ministry said communication with the squid fishing vessel, with three Koreans and 18 Indonesians on board, was cut after midnight on Friday.

The ministry said India, Germany and Japan have deployed aircraft to the waters off Somalia to search for the vessel.

&quot;We are working with authorities in related countries including the United States, Germany, India and Japan,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.

It said South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked related ministries to &quot;put the utmost priority on human lives and make sure that they will be rescued&quot;.

A South Korean navy unit in 2011 stormed a South Korean-operated chemical carrier Samho Jewelry that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing all 21 crew members and killing eight pirates.

On Tuesday, Somali pirates hijacked an Iranian fishing vessel to use as a base to attack bigger, more valuable ships, part of an upsurge in attacks following years of relative calm.&nbsp;

This month has seen a new rash of attacks, with two ships captured and a third rescued by Indian and Chinese forces after the crew radioed for help and locked themselves in a safe room.

The sudden string of attacks by Somali pirates comes after years without a reported incident.&nbsp;

Attacks peaked with 237 in 2011 but declined steeply after ship owners improved security measures and international naval forces stepped up patrols.

The United States is closely watching a recent increase in piracy off the coast of Somalia and a senior US military official says the rise in piracy attacks has at least partially been driven by famine and drought in the region.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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The Indian Navy has thwarted a piracy attempt on a Liberian vessel in the Gulf of Aden, in a swift operation after receiving a distress call from MV Mountbatten. (Video Source: Ministry of Defense) (Agencies,Others)
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(WION with Reuters, AFP inputs)

South Korean foreign ministry said communication with the fishing vessel, with three Koreans and 18 Indonesians on board, was cut on Friday

A few days after India's INS Sharda foiled a priacy attempt on a Liberian vessel off Gulf of Aden, the South Korean government today dispatched its anti-piracy naval unit to waters off Somalia after communication with a Mongolian fishing vessel was cut when it requested help, fearing it was being followed by a suspected pirate vessel. The development comes just over a month after 10 Indians were rescued from a commercial vessel which was hijacked by pirates in waters off Somalia. Also Read: Indians held by pirates in Somalia rescued "The boat sent a message that it was being approached by some unidentified vessels," South Korean official told AFP. "Contact with the fishing boat was then lost, he added. South Korean foreign ministry said communication with the squid fishing vessel, with three Koreans and 18 Indonesians on board, was cut after midnight on Friday. The ministry said India, Germany and Japan have deployed aircraft to the waters off Somalia to search for the vessel. "We are working with authorities in related countries including the United States, Germany, India and Japan," the ministry said in a statement. It said South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked related ministries to "put the utmost priority on human lives and make sure that they will be rescued". A South Korean navy unit in 2011 stormed a South Korean-operated chemical carrier Samho Jewelry that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing all 21 crew members and killing eight pirates. On Tuesday, Somali pirates hijacked an Iranian fishing vessel to use as a base to attack bigger, more valuable ships, part of an upsurge in attacks following years of relative calm. This month has seen a new rash of attacks, with two ships captured and a third rescued by Indian and Chinese forces after the crew radioed for help and locked themselves in a safe room. The sudden string of attacks by Somali pirates comes after years without a reported incident. Attacks peaked with 237 in 2011 but declined steeply after ship owners improved security measures and international naval forces stepped up patrols. The United States is closely watching a recent increase in piracy off the coast of Somalia and a senior US military official says the rise in piracy attacks has at least partially been driven by famine and drought in the region. The Indian Navy has thwarted a piracy attempt on a Liberian vessel in the Gulf of Aden, in a swift operation after receiving a distress call from MV Mountbatten. (Video Source: Ministry of Defense) (Agencies,Others) × (WION with Reuters, AFP inputs)

South Korean navy to rescue Mongolian vessel off Somalia as India, Germany, Japan provide air cover

A Pakistani-owned cargo vessel has been hijacked by Somali pirates, a day after an Indian commercial vessel was similarly commandeered by the buccaneers.

This was the fourth ship waylaid by Somali pirates in the last month.

The Pakistani cargo vessel was carrying food when they were captured by the pirates, New York Times reported.

The number of crew on the ship named &#39;MV Salama 1&#39; remains unknown.

Pakistan is yet to confirm the report.

Piracy on the high seas near off Somalia had reached its peak between 2008 and 2012, but had since subsided.

At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held.&nbsp;

But analysts believe the resurgence of piracy is owing to the growing influence of Islamic State, corruption, drought and famine.&nbsp;

The latest hijack comes as Somali officials said the Indian ship that was seized last week was in the notorious El Hur area of central Somalia.

The pirates are holding the eleven crew members on the Indian ship for ransom.

The Indian cargo ship was carrying items such as wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia&#39;s Bossaso port when it came under attack, owner Isaak Them told AFP.

The New York Times also suggested that the recent pirates hail from Puntland in central Somalia, a semi-autonomous region where the government&#39;s powers have been swamped by powerful syndicates.

Last month, the buccaneers had captured a Sri Lankan oil tanker, but later released the crew with no conditions. A few days later, they caught a large fishing vessel so that they could use it as a floating base to capture even bigger ships.

&quot;We have seen a number of attacks over last few weeks which seems to confirm what we have always thought - that the&nbsp;pirates&nbsp;haven&#39;t gone away but have merely been doing other things,&quot; said John Steed -- a former British army officer with Oceans Beyond Piracy, who has spent years negotiating the release of piracy hostages in Somalia.

He attributed the resurgence to a &quot;reduction in precautions taken by shipping companies&quot; such as travelling without armed guards, closer to shore and at slower speeds than recommended.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The New York Times report suggested a hijacked Indian ship is being held for ransom in the notorious El Hur area of central Somalia

A Pakistani-owned cargo vessel has been hijacked by Somali pirates, a day after an Indian commercial vessel was similarly commandeered by the buccaneers. This was the fourth ship waylaid by Somali pirates in the last month. The Pakistani cargo vessel was carrying food when they were captured by the pirates, New York Times reported. The number of crew on the ship named 'MV Salama 1' remains unknown. Pakistan is yet to confirm the report. Piracy on the high seas near off Somalia had reached its peak between 2008 and 2012, but had since subsided. At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held. But analysts believe the resurgence of piracy is owing to the growing influence of Islamic State, corruption, drought and famine. The latest hijack comes as Somali officials said the Indian ship that was seized last week was in the notorious El Hur area of central Somalia. The pirates are holding the eleven crew members on the Indian ship for ransom. The Indian cargo ship was carrying items such as wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia's Bossaso port when it came under attack, owner Isaak Them told AFP. The New York Times also suggested that the recent pirates hail from Puntland in central Somalia, a semi-autonomous region where the government's powers have been swamped by powerful syndicates. Last month, the buccaneers had captured a Sri Lankan oil tanker, but later released the crew with no conditions. A few days later, they caught a large fishing vessel so that they could use it as a floating base to capture even bigger ships. "We have seen a number of attacks over last few weeks which seems to confirm what we have always thought - that the pirates haven't gone away but have merely been doing other things," said John Steed -- a former British army officer with Oceans Beyond Piracy, who has spent years negotiating the release of piracy hostages in Somalia. He attributed the resurgence to a "reduction in precautions taken by shipping companies" such as travelling without armed guards, closer to shore and at slower speeds than recommended. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Pakistani vessel becomes 4th ship to be hijacked by Somali pirates in a month: Report

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Somali pirates return, amplifying global shipping concerns: Report

India becomes the new security provider in the Arabian Sea

Suspected pirates hijack trawler off Somalia: Sri Lanka navy

South Korean navy to rescue Mongolian vessel off Somalia as India, Germany, Japan provide air cover

Pakistani vessel becomes 4th ship to be hijacked by Somali pirates in a month: Report